Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Level 2

150 points

Cannot delete files after emailing them

Ever since I upgraded to Snow Leopard I cannot empty the trash if there is a file that I have added as an attachment in an email if Mail is still open. It will say the file is in use and I either have to quit Mail or Secure Empty Trash. This is really annoying. Anyone know of a fix? The file shouldn't be in use once it is sent in Mail. This never happened in previous versions of OSX. Also, if I have sent a file as an attachment I cannot save over it in the originating program because it is in use.

MacBook Pro 17" 2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, Mac OS X (10.6), 4GB RAM

Posted on Jun 3, 2010 7:12 AM

121 replies

Ra_

Level 1

10 points

Jun 16, 2010 2:22 PM in response to Ernie Stamper

It doesn't, but I tried with any situation anyway, even with a default plain text one.

Scott Raymond Author

Level 2

150 points

Jun 16, 2010 2:26 PM in response to Ra_

THIS IS IT!!!! For me anyway. I moved the signature folder to my desktop. Relaunched mail and created a message with an attachment from my desktop. Sent that message. After I didn't quit mail and moved the file that was attached to the trash and emptied the trash without getting the in use message.

This worked! BUT I have to have a signature in my email. How can we fix this so we have a signature and can delete files we've attached. I haven't had a chance to test a new account yet but my suspicion is that the one person that said they tested this and it worked that they did not add a signature to mail when they created a new OS account.

By the way, my signature does NOT have any images attached to it. It is all just plain text.

Scott Raymond Author

Level 2

150 points

Jun 16, 2010 2:29 PM in response to Ra_

Apple should know about this. How do we get them to correct it? This worked for me when deleting the signature file.

elzee13

Level 1

4 points

Jun 16, 2010 2:33 PM in response to Scott Raymond

I am not at my laptop to test the signature thing. But you are correct. I did not add a signature to the new account I created. This is exciting though. I hope we can figure it out.

Ra_

Level 1

10 points

Jun 16, 2010 2:37 PM in response to elzee13

I don't think we can figure it out since it's not a "logical" bug, I mean something we can tweak.

I will fill the bug report thing (if someone can do it too that would be cool, I'm not too confident with my explanations in english).

toriqo

Level 1

5 points

Jun 16, 2010 3:32 PM in response to Ra_

does anyone around has Leopard (os x 10.5)? i'd like to take a look at the plist file inside the signatures folder.

Jun 16, 2010 3:44 PM in response to Scott Raymond

I've had this issue for months now and I can also confirm the signatures tip fixes it. No idea why that would fix it, must be some crazy dependency, but it was pretty disappointing to see another OS X / Mail.app upgrade come and not address this.

toriqo

Level 1

5 points

Jun 16, 2010 4:01 PM in response to Jonathan Smiley

well, i rather keep quitting Mail than deleting my signature. anyway, apple releasing a new Mail version without fixing this minor bug isn't a surprise...

this guy -> http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=11679236#11679236
mailed them 5 times 🙂 not to mention my bug reporting (and maybe others') so they SHOULD have know about it.

maybe they're too busy getting drunk and loosing iphones 🙂

Jun 16, 2010 4:04 PM in response to Scott Raymond

You don't have to quit Mail. You can delete the problem files by using Secure Empty Trash.

toriqo

Level 1

5 points

Jun 16, 2010 4:06 PM in response to Marc Dahmen

i know, but that's still annoying and sometimes takes time (i might have other files in trash).

Scott Raymond Author

Level 2

150 points

Jun 16, 2010 5:21 PM in response to Jonathan Smiley

Yes, very disappointing. Shame on you Apple, since I've listed it as a bug early on an you have not done anything to address it. And judging by the amount of traffic this post has cause, there are quite a few people with the same problem.

Scott Raymond Author

Level 2

150 points

Jun 16, 2010 5:24 PM in response to Marc Dahmen

Sure, I've know that from the start! But who wants to keep going to "secure empty trash". The whole point is I am a designer and my time is valuable so I depend on shortcuts. I am constantly typing "command-delete" to put a file in the trash and then "command-shift-delete" to empty the trash which doesn't work if I have to "secure" empty the trash! There is no shortcut for that! And isn't that what Apple USED to be all about? Helping designers work more efficiently? At least that is what I remember about apple but I'm not so sure now.

toriqo

Level 1

5 points

Jun 16, 2010 5:25 PM in response to Scott Raymond

quite a few? i'd say just about everyone using Snow Leopard and a signature in Mail 🙂

Scott Raymond Author

Level 2

150 points

Jun 16, 2010 5:35 PM in response to Ra_

How do I fill out a bug report to Apple. I know I did it many moons ago when this problem started happening but I can't remember where I got to do that on the Apple site.

toriqo

Level 1

5 points

Jun 16, 2010 5:41 PM in response to Scott Raymond

you could just use the "Provide Mail Feedback" menu. in the Mail.app, click the Mail menu > Provide Mail Feedback.

also the only bug reporting tool: http://bugreport.apple.com/

Cannot delete files after emailing them